COVER REVEAL!!! Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green

Coming in November 2020 is a debut novel that is sure to rock the book world! I say that because there aren't too many novels written in an epistolary style. 

I asked Amy what inspired her to write this style novel and she said,

"A few years ago, I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and fell in love with the epistolary style. I'm a letter-writer myself, and I often noticed how my pen pals had different "voices" that came through in their letters. The most interesting ones in the novel and in real life were blazing with strong emotions and conflict, so I made a note of that and waited for the right story to fit the epistolary format.  When I had the idea for Things We Didn't Say, I realized I'd found the right one. I had a spitfire translator heroine who was friends with a Japanese American based miles away (facing plenty of prejudice of his own), so their letters could tell the story of the POW camp and the town that didn't want it. Add in some conflict with the local newspaper editor, censored mail from the POWs back to Germany, and angry letters to the editor, and there was potential for all kinds of documents...and strong emotions."

I appreciate the insight from Amy. Sounds like an amazing premise for a story, right??

And now here is the beautiful cover for Things We Didn't Say...

Things We Didn't Say 

by Amy Lynn Green

About the Book

Johanna Berglund didn’t want to return to her small Midwest town for any reason, and certainly not to become a translator at a German prisoner of war camp. She arrives to find the once-sleepy community exploding with hostility toward the prisoners and those who work at the camp. Her friend Peter Ito, a military intelligence instructor, encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance, and as Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their mail, she begins to see the prisoners in a more sympathetic light. But when the men her country is fighting become the men she is fighting for, she must decide who to trust—and whose side she’s truly on.

You can connect with Amy on Facebook and Instagram or her website AmyGreenBooks.

Pre-order link:

Amazon

I am not affiliated with Amazon. Links are a courtesy only.

I sure can't wait to read this story! Have you read an epistolary novel? If so, please share in the comments!

Review ~ Vigilant (The Night Guardians #1) by Sara Davison

I confess the cover of this book is what drew me in. I love monochromatic designs or at least ones that are super close. 

However, I couldn't decide which male character was supposed to be portrayed. That left me a bit confused, along with a few other things. 

Even though I gave it what is considered to be a negative review, I didn't dislike the book, as you'll see in my review. But first...

About the book:

She must choose between the man who represents the law and the one who may have taken it into his own hands. Neglected by her parents for most of her life, Nicole Hunter keeps everyone, especially men, at arms’ length. So when Attorney Gage Kelly walks into the diner where she is waiting tables one evening, she fights her attraction to him with everything she has.

Gage and his brother Holden grew up in an abusive home, and Gage has baggage of his own. But the connection between him and Nicole is too strong to ignore, and Gage manages to convince them both that their relationship is worth the risk. Then children begin disappearing in the night.

When Detective Daniel Grey starts to close in on the child snatcher, and enlists Nicole’s help, she faces her deepest fear. Everything and everyone she has clung to so tightly could be ripped from her, leaving her completely alone.

Except for one. 

My Review
2.5 stars

Vigilant has all the hallmarks of a good suspense but the love triangle is just weird. Nicole doesn't really know Gage or Daniel and yet on separate occasions allows them entry into her home under questionable circumstances, all the while telling herself that she shouldn't, which is dimwitted to say the least.

While the author portrays abusive situations realistically, and gives the reader much to think on, two wrongs don't make a right. When we start going down the path of vigilantism, the waters get real murky, real fast.

The ending isn't nice and tidy and left me feeling disappointed. There is a sneak peek at book two which, because the author is obviously talented at drawing in a reader, makes me want to read Guarded.

I bought this book and was under no obligation to post a review. 

I wouldn't dissuade anyone from buying the book because it did keep my attention to where I had to keep going until I was done. I'm usually pretty busy but I managed to read this one within a 24 hour period. :-)

We're supposed to get some snow here in SE VA!!! Finally!!! What's the weather like in your neck-of-the-woods?? 

Review ~ She Believed: 12 Stories of Courageous Women of Faith Who Changed the World (Courageous Girls) by Jean Fischer

Shiloh Kidz (February 1, 2020) 

Girls are world-changers! . . . And this delightful storybook proves it!

Give 5- to 8-year-old girls role models who might inspire them to become world changers! These stories will empower them to understand that women make an important contribution to our world, and that our faithful impact would be much smaller without Clara Barton, Corrie ten Boom, Mother Teresa, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and others. 32 pages, hardcover from Shiloh Kidz.

She Believed contains 12 encouraging stories of women of faith through history who have had an astonishing impact not only in Christianity but around the world.

This hardback book is sure to draw young readers into each short story with colorful illustrations that are pleasing to the eye and strengthen their faith. It is also a great opportunity for parents and caregivers to engage in meaningful conversation with inquiring minds.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

~Happy Reading~

COVER REVEAL!!! A Portrait of Loyalty

The Codebreakers by Roseanna White has been a thrilling series so far. With two books already released to excellent reviews, I'm sure that A Portrait of Loyalty is going to be sensational!!! 

Zivon Marin was one of Russia’s top cryptographers, until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee after speaking out against Lenin and separated from his brother along the way, he arrives in England driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. 

Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera—and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and recreating photographs. With her father’s connections in propaganda, she’s recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove.

After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily. He sees patterns in what she deems chaos; she sees beauty in a world he thought destroyed. But both have secrets they’re unwilling to share, and no one is quite certain where Zivon's loyalties really lie—until his enemies are discovered to be far closer than he’d feared, and only Lily's skills can save him.

Enter the Valentine's Day Giveaway that Roseanna and several other Christian Fiction authors are sponsoring.

⇩⇩ Click the link below to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway ⇩ ⇩

 https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d4955a4c7/

Remember...

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Rebecca Reviews ~ More Than We Remember by Christina Suzann Nelson

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: February 18th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

One night changes everything for three women. . . .

When Addison Killbourn's husband is involved in a car accident that leaves a woman dead, her perfectly constructed life crumbles apart. With her husband's memory of that night gone and the revelation of a potentially life-altering secret, Addison has to reevaluate all she thought she knew.

Emilia Cruz is a deputy bearing a heavy burden far beyond the weight of her job. Her husband is no longer the man she married, and Emilia's determined to prevent others from facing the same hardship. When she's called to the scene of an accident pointing to everything she's fighting against, she's determined to see justice for those wronged.

Brianne Demanno is hiding from reality. She was thriving as a counselor, but when tragedy struck a beloved client, she lost faith in herself and her purpose. When her neighbors, the Killbourns, are thrown into crisis, Brianne's solitary life is disrupted and she finds herself needed in a way she hasn't been in a while.

As the lives of these women intersect, they can no longer dwell in the memory of who they've been. Can they rise from the wreck of the worst moments of their lives to become who they were meant to be?

Rebecca's Review 

3.5 stars

"Once again, life wasn't playing fair."

The lives of three women converge one fate filled night on the Darlington-West Crow Highway. One, being the officer who responded; another, the wife of the driver; and the third, was simply a neighbor. Tragically for all three, there was nothing remotely simple about the head on collision that claimed the life of a single mother, especially when the man responsible maintains no recollection of the accident, or why he had even been on the road that night.

Determined that she has the evidence to convict Caleb Kilbourn of drunk driving and vehicular homicide, Deputy Emilia Cruz presses the case forward. Addison Kilbourn has never known her husband to drink alcohol, but she does know that he had not been truthful about his whereabouts on the night in question. Brianne Demmano has been living in virtual solitude after tossing her counseling career aside, until her distressed neighbors, the Kilbourns, desperately need her assistance during their current family upheaval.

Memories are a curious thing. Some lead to thoughts of bitterness and revenge, others simply confuse and confound, while others are twisted out of proportion; producing guilt and regret. Others still can be manufactured after repeatedly injecting falsehoods.

The author has woven all of these scenarios into a fascinating story with the assurance that " . . it's a dangerous thing to make decisions out of fear. Fear can stop us from seeing the wonderful adventures and people who are waiting for us to show up."

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education, and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With over 30 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story".

Rebecca Reviews ~ The Land Beneath Us (Sunrise at Normandy, #3) by Sarah Sundin

Paperback, 384 pages

Published February 4th 2020 by Fleming H. Revell Company / Baker Publishing Group

In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the U.S. Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, determined to do his best in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers' betrayal, Clay has only one thing to live for—fulfilling the recurring dream of his death.

Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing to rise above her orphanage upbringing and belong to the community, even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family—the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago.

After Clay saves Leah's life from a brutal attack, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-Day, their letters bind them together over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay's recurring dream comes true? 

Purchase:

Amazon

Rebecca's Review
~4 STARS~

" . . . she hadn't anticipated the danger - the danger of falling for a man destined to die."

Private Clay Paxton is training hard at Camp Forrest, Tennessee; becoming an U. S. Army Ranger is grueling work, but Clay is certain that God has already called him to sacrifice his life for his country . . . . literally. After meeting a young librarian, Leah Jones; tiny in stature, but towering in inner strength, Clay becomes less certain about his destiny; deciding to protect Leah following a vicious attack by giving her his name for protection. The newness of their relationship has no time for roots, for Clay heads for Normandy and Leah is left behind; only their letters hint at a growing fondness that will certainly turn into tragedy, if Clay isn't fortunate enough to return home.

Having read many of this author's books, "The Land Beneath Us" stands out for several reasons. The impeccable historical details are narrowed to a focus that is more pallatable, thus the relational portions of the story have room to breathe and expand. The structure of the story is uniquely suited as well; the two main characters being far apart through-out much of the narrative gives the story an almost dual timeline feel, which keeps the reader happily turning pages until the very last one.

"It's our time to live . . . to laugh, . . . to dance . . to love."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education, and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With over 30 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story".

Book Spotlight ~ Kings Falling (The Book of the Wars 2) by Ronie Kendig

COMING MARCH 31st!!!

Bethany House -- March 31, 2020

Leif Metcalfe and his team, dubbed Reaper, need to recover the stolen, ancient Book of the Wars if they hope to stop the Armageddon Coalition and their pursuit of global economic control. But their attention has been diverted by a prophecy in the book that foretells of formidable guardians who will decimate the enemies of ArC. While Iskra Todorova uses her connections in the covert underworld to hunt down the Book of the Wars, Leif and Reaper attempt to neutralize these agents but quickly find themselves outmaneuvered and outgunned.

The more Reaper tries to stop the guardians, the more failure becomes a familiar, antagonistic foe. Friendships are fractured, and the team battles to hold it together long enough to defeat ArC. But as this millennia-old conspiracy creeps closer and closer to home, the implications could tear Leif and the team apart. 

I know y'all know how much I love Ronie Kendig's stories and this one is sure to be amazing! If you haven't read the first book in the series yet, hop on over to one of your favorite online retailers and snag a copy today. While you're there, you can pre-order Kings Falling! 

Right now, CBD has the best deal on pre-order at only $9.99 for a paperback. I'm not affiliated with them and make no money if you use the link provided. It's a courtesy only. :-)

 You can read my review of Storm Rising here. It's also available at CBD for $9.99 (paperback). Such great deals on this exciting series! 

Let me know in the comments if you've read Storm Rising. It's sooooo good!!!

~Have a blessed day~

Review ~ The Brightest of Dreams (Canadian Crossings 3) by Susan Anne Mason

About the Book

Quinten Aspinall is determined to fulfill a promise he made to his deceased father to keep his family together. To do so, he must travel to Canada to find his younger siblings, who were sent there as indentured workers while Quinn was away at war. He is also solicited by his employer to look for the man's niece who ran off with a Canadian soldier. If Quinn can bring Julia back, he will receive his own tenant farm, enabling him to provide a home for his ailing mother and siblings.

Julia Holloway's decision to come to Toronto has been met with disaster. When her uncle's employee rescues her from a bad situation, she fears she can never repay Quinn's kindness. So when he asks her to help find his sister, she agrees. Soon after, however, Julia receives some devastating news that changes everything.

Torn between reuniting his family and protecting Julia, will Quinn have to sacrifice his chance at happiness to finally keep his promise? 

___________________________________________________________

About the Author

I have always loved to write. As a teen, I wrote my first novel, only to be politely

rejected by my publisher of choice.

Life got in the way – university, marriage and children became the priority. Then once I had time to start reading again, the writing bug bit once more.

I enjoy writing both contemporary and historical Inspirational romances. “Romance sprinkled with faith” describes my writing style. I love themes of forgiveness and redemption!

I am a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Romance Writers of America. My association with such amazing groups of people has been the biggest asset toward learning my craft.

Home for me is Brampton, Ontario, Canada (near Toronto), where I live with my husband and our two children. My day job is a part-time secretary at a local church. In my spare time, I like to read and research our family history online.

Read more at Susan's website - https://susanannemason.net/

_________________________________________________________________________________

My Review

4 STARS!!!

The Brightest of Dreams is such a lovely finish to this series. Mason uses a deft pen to plumb the depths of despair and heartache which brought many a tear to this reader’s eye. Emotional pain runs deep throughout the narrative and although several situations cannot be described as good, the author was careful to portray them with sensitivity and compassion.

The sub-story with the Reverend and Mrs “C” is utterly captivating and oh, so sweet. Mason is adept at drawing me into her stories and holding me captive with both good and not-so-good personalities. The biblical theme of forgiveness is prominent. I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion to Canadian Crossings. I highly recommend it of fans of Historical fiction.

Reading the notes in the back of the book, I was surprised that such an enormous event in history would be so little known. Several writers like Mason are shedding new light onto this period in history, for which I am thankful. We have much to continue learning about the terrible plights children suffered and to make sure those in the foster system today are treated with dignity and love.

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. My opinion is my own.

Have you read any of Susan's books? If not, I can highly recommend them!